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Bekkai government, the conservaive wing of the party formed a government under the stewardship of Balafrej. This lasted from May to December 1958, and made an indifferent record.Independent Nortb'Africa
It was:a period when events in the Middle East like the Iraqi Revolution made the palace sensitive, while labor disorders increased in thecities. Late in the year an uprising in the Rif.
stemming from both economic and political discontent, was forcefully put down by the Royal Arny led by Crown Prince (now King) Mulay Hassan. It was also a time when intraparty disharmony came to open rupture. The govemment was forced to resign and, after three weeks of consultations, the King chose a cabinet directed by one of the leaders of the opposing faction, Ibrahim, athough members were to serve, according to royal decision, on a personal and not party basis.
The purpose of this cabinet was to prepare for elections and resign, but in fact it lingered in office well over a year, during which time political confusion reached a climax. The Istiqlal split into two segments, and in the sunmer of 19s9 the "progressive" wing, as it terned itself, organized a new party, the National Union of Popular Forces (UNFP), which united Istiglal secessionists, dissidents from minor parties, and leaders of the Moroccan Labor Union (UMT). Chaos was the only description of the events of early 196o. The government refused to resign voluntarily and signs of impatience and hostility multiplied from the palace, particularly from the Crowr Prince, who was politically very active. To compensate for the defection of the UMT, the Istiglal had formed 2 rival labor union which did not attract a large clientele, but private political and union strong-arm squads brought a return of viokence to the ciries. The government was powerless since the palace had control of the security forces, and it refused to intervene. The situation was such that in fact the leaders of the govermment were the chiefs of the opposition, and an uprising in the Atlas was attempted not against bur in favor of the government. To check further degradation, the King stepped
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